Thank you very much.
Good morning, Mr. Chair.
I am Patricia Fortier, the Director General of the Consular Operations Bureau in DFAIT. I am going to talk about what our bureau does.
The consular operations bureau's mandate is to provide assistance to Canadians abroad on routine matters such as passport or citizenship applications and in distress cases such as hospitalization, death, or arrest. The general approach of Canadian consular services emphasizes self-reliance, respect for privacy, and provision of help where it is needed.
Case management officers in Ottawa work in tandem with consular officers at missions abroad. Together they offer professional client service, assistance, and support for concerned loved ones. We provide support and advice working with our consular staff in over 260 missions in 150 countries abroad. Currently we have 142,000 active consular cases around the world. That means that every day we open approximately 686 new cases.
We also handle issues involving Canada's most precious resource: our children. With the increase of international immigration, cross-cultural marriages and divorce rates, there has been an increase in cases involving children. We have dedicated officers working on issues including child abduction and custody disputes. There are currently over 650 active cases.
The Consular Operations Bureau also engages in strategic planning to identify resource needs and tools in order to improve the delivery of consular services.
How do we do this? Protection of Canadian interests and assistance are the cornerstones of our services. They are brought about by agents in the field or in Ottawa. Our policies, our practices, are constantly tested. They are modified when necessary to respond to rapidly evolving challenges. Officers are guided by a comprehensive manual of consular instructions. We also work in close cooperation with our partners to ensure timely and optimal services. These partners include Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Passport Canada, and of course the Canadian Border Services Agency, which is here today. We also have close working relationships with the provincial and municipal governments, who play a vital role in meeting the needs of our citizens who are most at risk.
We also have challenges. During the management of any case, the concerns of the client are foremost. This includes safeguarding their information. We are pursuing several initiatives to reinforce the protection of that information under the Privacy Act. As you are aware, the Privacy Act directs us not to discuss the details of cases unless the client has given specific consent.
Consular demand has grown in recent years, not only in numbers but in complexity. The number of distress-related cases has also increased. Consular officers not only assist clients, they also inform them of the Canadian government's role. For example, the Government of Canada cannot interfere in the judicial affairs of another country. We do, however, seek equitable treatment under local law for all Canadians arrested or detained, consistent with the laws of that host country.
I want to assure you that the vast majority of cases, literally thousands and thousands of cases, are successfully resolved every year. Fully 65% of distress-related cases were closed in the last fiscal year. A very few, however, require more sustained effort, sometimes lasting years. These are classified as complex distress cases. The client's case may be further complicated if the client has dual nationality. There are a number of countries that do not recognize dual citizenship.
There are also increasing expectations on the part of Canadians of what the Canadian government can provide, either financially or in terms of intervention. In order to provide sustainable services to the thousands of Canadians who seek our help abroad, case management and consular officers help clients to help themselves as much as possible and to access resources where they may be available.
This is difficult and challenging work, which is why I'd like to close with a small note about our people. Our officers are dedicated to the welfare of Canadians in all parts of the world. Our officers come from diverse backgrounds. They are highly qualified, many of them with graduate degrees. They undergo intensive training, and they are committed to assisting Canadians who find themselves in difficulty away from home. They are the face of Canada abroad.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to address this committee.
I'll now turn to my colleague, Paul Roué.